Articulated, unit cast case system for ungluing documents

ABSTRACT

This invention relates to apparatus which will allow documents of small dimensions to be unglued from their bindings without damage. The apparatus includes a unit-cast case actually including two boxes connected by a hinge forming an integral part of the case, with the boxes mentioned differing only by their depth, and with the top one functioning as a cover. To the respective bottom of each box are attached thin plates of asbestos covered with a plasticized grill. The system operates by dampening the asbestos plate of the lower box with distilled water. The document to be unglued is placed directly upon the grill. Impregnation time before ungluing varies from several minutes to several hours. The invention can be used in the laboratory; in the medical and pharmaceutical fields; in industry; by stamp collectors; and the like.

United States Patent 11 1 Berger 1 1 ARTICULATED, UNIT CAST CASE SYSTEMFOR UNGLUING DOCUMENTS [76] Inventor: Rene Berger, 33 Rue Troyon 77,

Melun la Rochette, France [22] Filed: June 9, 1971 [21] Appl. No.:151,464

[52] US. Cl. 156/584, 220/31 S, 312/31.1 [51] Int. Cl B32b 35/00 [58]Field of Search 312/31, 31.01, 31.02, 31.2,

3l2/31.l; 156/584, 344; 120/35, 6; 220/31 S Feb. 5, 1974 PrimaryExaminer--Edward G. Whitby Attorney, Agent, or FirmWalter G. Finch 5 7ABSTRACT This invention relates to apparatus which will allow documentsof small dimensions to be unglued from their bindings without damage.The apparatus includes a unit-cast case actually including two boxesconnected by a hinge forming an integral part of the case, with theboxes mentioned differing only by their depth, and with the top onefunctioning as a cover. To the respective bottom of each box areattached thin plates of asbestos covered with a plasticized grill. Thesystem operates by dampening the asbestos plate of [56] References Citedthe lower box with distilled water. The document to UNITED STATESPATENTS be unglued is placed directly upon the grill. Impregna-2,322,350 6/1943 Dewees 156/344 X tion time before ungluing varies fromseveral minutes 895,874 8/1908 I 3l2/31.0 to several hours. Theinvention can be used in the labl s "l g oratory; in the medical andpharmaceutical fields; in roemmlsie 3,155,269 11/1964 Schurman et a1 22031 5 Industry by Stamp collectors and the 4 Claims, 10 Drawing Figures x574 ,44 2 AAA 47 7 7 AL 47 7 74:

ARTICULATED, UNIT CAST CASE SYSTEM FOR UNGLUING DOCUMENTS This inventionrelates generally to ungluing apparatus, and more particularly itpertains to a case system intended to be used for ungluing documents ofsmall dimensions, such as postage stamps.

At the present time there is no method or system which allows automaticungluing of documents, postage stamps or similar things, from theirbacking without any manipulation. People are usually satisfied bywetting the outside of said documents or stamps, waiting a certainlength of time for the humidity to penetrate them, then progressivelyraising a corner of them with forceps by tugging lightly upward tounglue them.

This method or system has the disadvantage of often I causing partialripping of the document in respect to the document itself. Particularly,in the case of postage stamps, it is difficult to unglue them withoutscratching them or partially removing their gum; without damaging theexterior perforations; and without leaving marks or traces on theoutside or on the gum.

It is an object of this invention, therefore, to provide a system thatcorrects these various disadvantages by making any manipulation of thedocument unnecessary after it has been placed in a case, with theungluing proceeding gradually and automatically on the inside withoutthe document undergoing any deterioration at all, such as scars, marks,and removal of the gum.

Still even another object of this invention is to provide a system whichwill allow documents of small dimensions to be quickly and efficientlyunglued from their bindings without damage.

In essence, the present invention consists of a unitcast case includingtwo parts differing only in their depth, joined to one another by ahinge which forms an integral part of the case, the lower part formingthe properly so-called case and the upper one forming the cover. Narrowplates of asbestos to 6 mm), entirely covered by a finely plasticizedgrill with the edges tucked under each plate to make the assembly stiff,are attached to the respective bottoms of each of these parts.

These and other objects and attendant advantages of this invention willbecome more readily apparent from the following detailed specificationand accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a side view of the ungluing apparatus incorporating featuresof this invention;

FIG. 2 is an end view of the ungluing apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a top view of the ungluing apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an end view of covering grill for the asbestos plates;

FIG. 5 is a top view of the covering grill of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a cross-section taken along line AA of FIG. 2;

FIG. 7 is a cross-section taken along line BB of FIG. 2; I

FIGS. 8 and 9 are top and plan views on a large scale of details of'thecase enclosure; and FIG. 10 is acrosssection taken along line CC of FIG.8.

Referring now to FIGS. 1,2, and 3 of the drawings, the system includes acase 1 and a cover 2 which are attached by a piano hinge 3. The hinge 3is so designed that half of it is formed as an integral part of the caseand the other half is of the cover. It is made entirely at the same timeby a single plastic molding under pressure of the two constituent parts.

This hinge 3 is semicircular in shape as indicated by reference numeral4 in FIG. 6, and it projects toward the exterior. It is made up of athinning of the same material as the plastic mold of the case 1,permitting great elasticity and a large number of openings of the case1, while avoiding the defects of joined metallic hinges which usually inthe long run allow traces of oxidation or specks of rust, which can bevery prejudicial to the documents treated.

The case, as further detailed in FIGS. 6 and 7, is in the shape of arectangular hollow body with a slope 5 on the faces, oriented from thetop of the case toward the bottom 6 and includingon the circumference 7a cover support edge 8, only on front face 9 and the side faces 10.

The cover 2 is identical in shape to case 1, but it is not as high. Itis connected to the case by the previously mentioned piano hinge 3. Onfront face 9 and side faces 10, it rests at 11 on the inside of edge 8.

An evaporation plate 12 and an absorption plate 13, as shown in FIGS. 6and 7, mounted opposite each other in case 1 and cover 2 arerespectively covered by a plasticized grill 14 (shown in detail in FIG.5).

The system of case closure, as shown in FIGS. 9, 10,

' and 11, include for the case 1 two platelets 18-19 which are of onepiece with it and extend beyond the plane of edge 8, and for the cover 2a platelet 20 which is placed between platelets 18-19 after the cover 2is closed. Inside and perpendicular to platelet 20, there is set aflexible piano hinge 21, with a nipple 22, the latter fitting into acorresponding slot 23 of case 1 by simple pressure. For opening, it isenough to press downward manually on platelets 18-19 of the case 1 andto pull platelet 20 of the case 1 and to pull platelet 20 of the cover 2upward to disengage the catch 22 from slot 23.

In order to use the system, the plate 12 of the case 1 is firstimpregnated with distilled water in such a way that no water flows afterthe assembly is turned upsidedown. On the other hand, the plate 13 ofthe cover 2 should not be moistened and remains dry.

Use of the system is simple, because it is enough to place the face sideof the document to be unglued onto the case grill 14 and to close thecover 2' carefully. In practice, ungluing should occur without thedocument placed inside being touched at all. If ungluing is notcomplete, it is sufficient to replace the document onto the grill 14 andto wait for a newperiod of time. This can vary from several minutes toseveral hours depending on the composition (thickness and kind of paper)of the document itself, as well as on the kind of glue with which it isimpregnated. After being unglued, the glue should have a smooth andregular appearance. Then the document or stamp may be taken out andallowed to dry in the air and then placed in a press to make itabsolutely flat.

The system can be used in all cases where the problem of ungluingdocuments with no deterioration arises. It can be used in the laboratoryin the medical and pharmaceutical field; in industry; in certain typesof artistic work; by stamp collectors, etc.

Obviously, many other modifications and variations of the presentinvention are possible in light of the above teachings. It is,therefore, to be understood that within the scope of the appended claimsthe invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.

What is claimed is:

1. An articulated unit cast case system for ungluing documents,comprising, a case, a cover, a flexible piano hinge integrallyconnecting said case and cover together along an edge thereof as asingle molding so that when said cover is placed over said case anenclosure is formed therein, first asbestos plate means attached to theinner surface of the bottom of said case, and second asbestos platemeans attached to the inner surface of said cover for facilitating thepresence of moisture within the enclosure.

2. An articulated unit cast case system for ungluing documents asrecited in claim 1, wherein said first and second asbestos plate meansfor said case and cover, respectively, comprise an evaporation plate forcontaining moisture which emanates in the enclosure and an absorptionplate for absorbing the moisture emanating in the enclosure,respectively.

3. An articulated unit cast case system for ungluing documents asrecited in claim 2, and additionally a plasticized grill with mesh ofawoven wire for enclosing said plates to contain and support said platestherein.

support for separating said closure case and cover.

1. An articulated unit cast case system for ungluing documents,comprising, a case, a cover, a flexible piano hinge integrallyconnecting said case and cover together along an edge thereof as asingle molding so that when said cover is placed over said case anenclosure is formed therein, first asbestos plate means attached to theinner surface of the bottom of said case, and second asbestos platemeans attached to the inner surface of said cover for facilitating thepresence of moisture within the enclosure.
 2. An articulated unit castcase system for ungluing documents as recited in claim 1, wherein saidfirst and second asbestos plate means for said case and cover,respectively, comprise an evaporation plate for containing moisturewhich emanates in the enclosure and an absorption plate for absorbingthe moisture emanating in the enclosure, respectively.
 3. An articulatedunit cast case system for ungluing documents as recited in claim 2, andadditionally a plasticized grill with mesh of a woven wire for enclosingsaid plates to contain and support said plates therein.
 4. Anarticulated unit cast case system for ungluing documents as recited inclaim 2, wherein closure of said case and cover is obtained by means ofa flexible piano hinge of said cover fitting into a corresponding slotin said case, with the closing and opening thereof being facilitated byplatelets belonging respectively to said case and to said cover on whichhinges can find support for separating said closure case and cover.